In Sahaja Yoga, meditation becomes truly collective. Each meditator is able to feel a direct connection with other participants; not through mental identification but through an experience taking place on his/her very central nervous system. With the awakening of the Kundalini energy and the opening of the last chakra (or energy center) – the first step in the practice of Sahaja Yoga meditation – a subtle connection is established with the All Pervading Energy and the collective being. One breaks free from one's own shell and relates naturally to the whole. This is the genuine “yoga” (literally “union”) taking place between one self and the energy called ParamChaitanya in Sanskrit or Primordial/Divine energy.

In the same way as this Primordial energy becomes palpable through the meditator's central nervous system (on the palms of the hand and on top of the head for example), the flow of this energy running through other fellow meditators can also be felt. The emotional and mental condition of others can also be perceived. Peace and joy are experienced and shared by all with the same intensity. This is the attainment of what H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, founder of Sahaja Yoga, describes as “collective consciousness”.

“One of the first things that happen to you [after self-realization] is that you develop a new dimension in your awareness which we call as collectively consciousness. C.G. Jung has talked about it… You start feeling others on your fingertips – on your very fingertips. As you have been told, your chakras are denoted in your palms and fingers and you can feel, on your fingertips, your chakras and the chakras of others, the centres of others,” H.H. Shri Mataji explained (Public Programme, June 1997, New York).

She said: “So, who is the ‘other'? You become collectively conscious; I am saying it again; you become – it is not lecturing, it is not saying it only. Then, see how many problems get solved in no time. For example, we are really creating problems for our Mother Earth but actually, this is because we are not collectively conscious… Once you are collectively conscious – you are in your awareness – then all the time, you think that what will harm others. ‘Should I smoke or not', ‘should I open a pub or not?' ‘No, because it will harm others'. All the wrong thing we are doing for money or whatever reason, just drop out. You just don't do wrong things, just don't do it, because you are collectively conscious”… “Once this collective consciousness is developed, all your problems are solved, absolutely...”

The intensity of collective meditations can also be understood using the analogy of the lightening of candles in a dark room. The more candles there are, the more light there is. Similarly, the greater the number of Sahaja Yogis meditating together, the stronger the experience for each individual. Each Yogi emanates a certain level of light, vibration or energy and this is released in the room and perceived by all.

This is a very important aspect of one's spiritual growth and the reason why, even after years of practice, experienced Yogis continue to attend collective meditation sessions. Aside from individual practice, such sessions fasten the growth process.

Furthermore, interacting with others in a group help each individual to face himself and become more aware of his/her strength and weaknesses. By attending collective sessions and mingling with others, Sahaja Yogis are able to manifest compassion, tolerance, respect and love for one another.